Sparkie the small fire elemental leaps into the firepit at Moffa's command but leaps back out again moments later. It is difficult to tell the difference in the sounds it is making now but the volume of crackling sounds from Sparkie has definitely increased. [Language unknown: "Hohas lat notie! Yin al venmo. Laenos aibut o ivus! A illies na p. Str en olhahe tr omeicacon intereere."]

Sparkie has emerged empty-handed, too, which is probably not too surprising as it doesn't have hands, nor any solid physical body either.

Moffa puts her monocle in her eye and casts a spell then studies the firepit dubiously before turning her attention to the other four magical items Bully has fetched from the drow priestess. Moffa's inspection of them all stretches on for several minutes.

Moffdust says what she finds out about the items Bully brought over, then she jumps into the fire pit and pretends to be a little green salamander tossing treasure like a slot machine.

From the drow priestess:

• +1 mithril chainshirt
• +1 cloak of resistance
• Greatreach Bracers: 3 times per day, wearer's arms stretch to give 10ft reach for 1 round (value 2000gp, D&D3.5 Magic Item Compendium pp108/109)
• Goggles of the golden sun: wearer is immune to blindness or dazzling; 3/day the wearer can use one of their own 3rd level or higher spell slots to spontaneously cast a Fireball spell at their own caster level (reflex save DC14 for half damage) (value 2000gp, D&D3.5 Magic Item Compendium p205)
• +1 dagger deals an extra 1d6hp damage to helpless creatures and those denied dex bonus to AC or flanked by wielder. (value 3302gp) The blade has an inscription on it in Undercommon.

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:16, Tue 17 Nov 2020.

Has somebody got a shovel? It is going to take Moffa quite a while to toss everything out from the bottom of the firepit.

• Coins: 40000cp, 8000sp, 2200gp
• Masterwork battleaxe (310gp)
• Dwarf-sized full plate (1500gp)
• Small-sized half plate (600gp)

Dregz agrees with Bully and suggests they decamp to somewhere outside the decay node for the duration, preferably with the treasure or as much of it as they can transport.

Sparky's reply about the fire pit brings a frown to the hairy goblin's brow.

"'E sez dat iz notta real fire at all," he translates in case anyone needed to know.

"Notta real fires?" Jurz repeats as he makes his way back to the firepit.  Once there, he holds out his hands towards the firepit, as if to warm them on a cold night.

Jurz's hands do feel warmer near the firepit but no matter how close he gets the flames do not get hot enough to burn him. Nor do they burn Moffa as she waddles around the bottom of the firepit scooping out handfuls of coins and pieces of armour.

"Hmmm. It's warm ..." Jurz turns his back on the firepit and sticks his backside out, just like an old goblin warming his nethers in front of an open fire.  then he casts a spell, and looks back at the firepit, squinting as he does so.  "... buts it don't burn.  I finks it's an hilloosion"

Anyone watching can see that Jurz's backside stuck out far enough to enter the flames of the firepit without any sign of the red goblin experiencing any pain at all.

Jurz scratches his backside, enjoying the warm feeling.

Sparky (Moffa's small fire elemental) drifts over to watch Jurz's antics. It even moves around  behind Jurz to help him really enjoy toasting his backside.

As his posterior suddenly gets much warmer Jurz jumps forwards and gives sparky a strange look.  However, he has finally convinced himself that the rire in the pit is an illusion, and slides down into the pit with Moffa.

Opening up his haversack, he starts piling coins into it.  "We's can empty dem all out again later, an counts den dem!" Jurz offeres by way of explanation.

"Has youse got de big bag?  Dat would be's even easier ..." he calls up to those outside the pit."

Bulldust looks sheepish when Jurz asks for the big bag of holding. "Um, I sold dat ter buy da hair shirt, Jurzie."  He scratches at the itchy shirt.  "But I still got Vera!"  He jumps into the pit with his favourite shovel and really steps up the coin fountain.

He doubles up laughing when Sparkie toasts Jurz.  "Hoo hoo!  Deres a rare goblin!"

Raven walks out to the firepit to watch the goblin treasure hunters at work.

She holds up the drow priestess's goggles and asks Moffa,

"Did yous say she could of made that big bad fireballs three times today? That would have been bad! I'd've been fried alive ... until I wasn't alive. Then fried some more!" she squawks.

Moffdust grins toothily at Raven. "I is too subtles fer fireballs Birdie Girl. One ov de udder goblinses might likes ter makes dem!" She lobs up a heavy mace and calls out its power. 

Small +1 human-bane heavy mace (8312gp)

"Oooooh, I heard o dat little fella mace, der Nutcracker!"

With the extra help it doesn't take too long for all of the salamanders' treasure to be retrieved from the firepit and the counting, resting and relaxation can begin.

The total haul is as follows:

• Coins: 40000cp, 8000sp, 2200gp (total value 3400gp)
• Masterwork battleaxe (value 310gp, sell for 155gp)
• Small-sized half plate (value 600gp, sell for 300gp)
• Dwarf-sized full plate (value 1500gp, sell for 750gp)
• small +1 human-bane heavy mace (Minmorc calls it Nutcracker) (value 8312gp, sell for 4156gp)
• medium-sized +1 mithril chainshirt (value 2100gp, sell for 1050gp)
• +1 cloak of resistance (value 1000gp, sell for 500gp)
• Greatreach Bracers: 3 times per day, wearer's arms stretch to give 10ft reach for 1 round (D&D3.5 Magic Item Compendium pp108/109) (value 2000gp, sell for 1000gp)
• Goggles of the golden sun: wearer is immune to blindness or dazzling; 3/day the wearer can use one of their own 3rd level or higher spell slots to spontaneously cast a Fireball spell at their own caster level (reflex save DC14 for half damage) (D&D3.5 Magic Item Compendium p205) (value 2000gp, sell for 1000gp)
• +1 dagger deals an extra 1d6hp damage to helpless creatures and those denied dex bonus to AC or flanked by wielder. The blade has an inscription on it in Undercommon. (value 3302gp, sell for 1651gp)

Total value is 13,962gp in cash and sell price of items, so everyone's shares are 2,327gp each. (Of course, if someone wants the Nutcracker there might need to be some negotiation.)

All that remains now is to divide up the loot and decide who does and doesn't want to spend the next 8 hours in the Decay Node to gain the promised benefits, whatever they are.

OOC: And the original purpose of this side quest is also achieved. Everyone reaches 36,000XP and can level up to level 9 (or ECL9).

"I'se fink youse should do de Fireball eyes, Dregz." The bald goblin offers once all the treasure is collected and he can climb out of the pit.  "Fink of de fun.  Youse wid de fireballs and me wid de icy storm and de lightning!"

Bulldust is excited about levelling up.
 "I fink I'll buy a new treasure bag.  An I'll grow some claws fer scratchin under dis shirt of itchiness."

"Der new treasure bags is a good idea ..." Jurz agrees.

The priest considers Jurz's suggestion (from a safe distance outside the Decay node).  While he already has a frightening mask, the thought of being able to hurl mighty magics certainly has its appeal, and he has naught else in the way of Bargrivyek's gifts of such fiery power as this.

Besides the goggles sound more suited to warding off the brightness of the upper world, while his mask was made by and for those who live below the surface, so horses for courses as they say around the cookpot (he prefers horse as a first course himself, as there's rarely any left for seconds).

One nagging doubt, though ... "Ise do gods casting ... will der magics spells works for me ?"

OOC: If he can use the Goggles of the Sun then he'll certainly take 'em as his share of the treasure.  :>
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Sun 29 Nov 2020.

Experimentation confirms that any spellcaster of any class capable of casting 3rd level spells can use the Goggles of the Golden Sun.

Bulldust looks over all the items but does not want to keep any.  He shrugs "I don't need any ov dese.  Gotta save up fer da shopping bag." He grins at that.

Moffdust claims the +1 mithril shirt. She will search in the city for an armourer or artificer who can make it fit her. "I'se gonna be tuff on de outsides too."

After a good bit of looting and a little bit of thinking, the team is split regarding the decision to stay in the decay node or stay right out of it. Minmorc and Jurz have decided to stay for the required 8 hours but Bully and Dregz don't like the idea at all. Raven eventually decides she will stay too. Moffa hasn't decided yet.

Everyone's shares of the treasure are 2,327gp each. If anyone decides to keep one of the items, they will be counted at sale price of the item.

• Dregz decided to claim the Goggles of the Golden Sun, leaving him 1,327gp to spend.
• Moffa decided to claim the medium-sized +1 mithril chainshirt, leaving her 1,277gp to spend.
• Raven thinks about it and decides that the Greatreach Bracers would be useful for her, leaving her 1,327gp to spend.
• Bully is putting his 2,327gp share towards a Bag of Holding.
• Jurz and Minmorc get 2,327gp each to spend.

Everyone who spends 8 hours in the Decay Node gains the granted power of the clerical Decay Domain: You may use a touch of decay once per day. Your touch of decay is a supernatural ability that causes putrescence in organic matter and weakens inorganic matter. You must succeed on a melee touch attack to affect a creature (using the rules for touch spells). If you touch a living creature including constructs with the living subtype, you deal 1d4 points of Constitution damage. If you touch an undead creature, an object, or a construct without the living construct subtype, you deal 2d6 points of damage +1 point per cleric level. As this requires a melee touch attack there is no saving throw, and as it is a supernatural effect spell resistance doesn't apply.

If anyone changes their mind after Minmorc, Jurz and Raven complete their 8 hours and do not appear to be harmed, there is still time as no time limit was set in Es Sarch's invitation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:21, Sat 19 Dec 2020.

Dregz eyes those who chose to brave the Decay Node with some trepidation, as if they might now be horribly contagious.  Whether deliberately or otherwise he seems to shift slightly whenever they approach as if to keep some distance betwixt he and they, and is constantly watching them with concern for any sign of disease.

The priest gives Bully 1000GP of his share of coin to help with the purchase of the Magic Bag - such a wonder is for the benefit of the whole tribe after all ... and besides, the coin is more than he can possibly carry!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Wed 16 Dec 2020.